The semi-weekly fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1887-10-25


neglect. Oh, she is such trial?''
II don't see why you keep such a girl, u
observed Miss Crutchett.
"They're all alike" said Mabel. "a
miserable, shiftless set If l sent her
away, [ should in all probability get a
worse one in her place.
''Humph!" said Miss Crutchett.
The next day the good old lady came
cheerfully up into Mrs. Verinder's fiat
once more.
"'Well, my dear" said she, sI've dis
covered way for you to help your hus-
hand"
Mabel flung down the book over which
she had been dreaming; her face grew
radiant.
Dear Miss Crutchett," said she, II
shall always, always be grateful to you b.!
Is it literary labor2"
''N-no," said Miss Crutchett, ''not ex-
actly literary labor"
''Is it painting?" urged Mabel.
mo, 1t isn't painting"
ooh, l know" cried Mabel. "Type-
writing and stenography 1 am sure L
could easily learn them, if Only, "
she added, with an apprehensive shadow
coming into her face, II shouldn't like
to undertake any occupation, Miss
Crutchett, which would take me per-
manently away from home"
"You needn't worry" said Miss
Crutchett, in the crisp, brisk way she
had. ''Your work can all be done at
home"
SIS it easy?" eagerly questioned Mabel.
"WelI, yes-after you have once
learned the trade"
ooh, it's something that I've got to
learn, them" hasitated Mrs. Verinder
Exactly! It's something that you've
go to learn"
"And how much can I earn by it,"
"Well, let me see, thoughtfully re-
marked Miss Crutchett. II should
think you might make as much as twenty
five dollars month. Perhaps more"
''And be at home all the time? No
car fare, no perpetual new boots and
gloves, no lunches to buy?"
Gwen so" beamed Miss Crutchett.
Mabel flung her book into the air and
deity caught it again, with a little cry
of delight
Tell me what it isl she coaxed
"Don't, for PHYS sake, keep me wait
ing"
Miss Crutchett sat calmly down, united
her bonnet strings, took off her gloves
the other, then she gave her spectacles an
extra polish and took two fat little vol
umes out OF her pocket.
Here are your text books" said she.
''Master the contents of these, and your
trade is learned"
Mabel made a feverish snatch at the
books. One was "A Complete House
Book" the other was "The Manual of
Cookery"
Her countenance fell.
"NIiss Crutchett," she cried, 'tyou are
making game of me"
Not in the least" said Miss Crutch-
ett Il mean every word that l say,
and I am ready to prove it. There is no
way in which wife can help her hus-
band so satisfactorily and thoroughly as
in the details of home life. Take my
advice, Mabel Go down stairs and dis
charge that inefficient, careless servant
of yours, who is sinfullv spelling good
food, and feeding a swarm of idle beg
CARS at your back door, while you are
ordering expensive meals from the
nearest restaurant There isn't a man
living whose income could stand the per-
petuaI drain of wasteful servants and a
neglectful wife"
"Neglectfulr cried Mabel, with red
bar rising to her forehead.
'Ask yourself, my dear, if 1 haven't
used the right word" composedly re-
torted Miss Crutchett. ''And here You
are, pining to 60 out into the world and
earn money to help your husband, when
you could help him a thousand times
more womanly and efficiently by making
the most of the money that he earns, and
by surrounding him with all the best
and sweetest influences of a home.
Now, my dear, l can read what is work
inc on your heart. l know perfectly
we'll that you are wondering why the
meddling little old maid doesn't mind
her own business"
mo, lam not" truthfully cried out
Mabel.
But I think you are sensible enough"
went on Miss Crutchett, ''to perceive the
truth of what have been saying. have
been looking around your kitchen, and
iotting down in my memOrandumboo
few facts and figures. Discharge your
useless and eXtravagant maid. Save, to
begin with, the fourteen dollars a month
which represent her wages; save the
twelve dollars which represent her board;
save the MOTTO be-expressed sum of her
waste. her breaksge, her carelessness. her